Long waiting times for specialised tests and elective surgery kept Australia’s ranking down. Photo: Gabriele Charotte
Australia’s health system delivers high-quality care but is let down by accessibility factors including cost and lack of timely access, a new report has found.
An international comparison of 11 health systems shows a high proportion of Australians report problems paying their medical bills and experience delays accessing treatment.
The fifth edition of Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, a report by private health researcher The Commonwealth Fund, suggests Australia is plagued by similar problems as the US in terms of accessibility.
Where Australia ranks compared to 10 other nations on key indicators of the health system. Photo: The Commonwealth Fund
But the US, which ranked last overall, was marked down on equity and efficiency. It spends far more on health than any other OECD nation, but delivers medium-quality outcomes for the average user. The report notes that the impact of ‘Obamacare’, President Obama’s reforms to expand health insurance coverage, has not yet been realised.